Presbyterians Today was named the best denominational magazine in North America by the Associated Church Press (ACP) at the oldest and largest Christian press association’s annual awards banquet here May 2.

Presbyterians Today’s prestigious “Best In Class” honor was one of 14 awards won by Presbyterian Church(U.S.A.) publications from among more than 1,000 entries submitted for judging in the yearly “Best of the Christian Press Awards 2011.”

Two other PC(USA) publications nabbed “Best in Class” honors: Presbyterian News Service received a third place award in the News Service category; and The Presbyterian Outlook received a third place prize in the Special Interest Magazine category.

Three PC(USA) journalists won Awards of Excellence (first place):

  • Jerry L. Van Marter of Presbyterian News Service in the News Story: News Service category for his story “PC(USA) relaxes constitutional prohibition of gay and lesbian ordination”; 
  • Margaret Aymer in the Bible Resource category for her 2011 HORIZONS magazine Bible study “Confessing the  Beatitudes”; 
  • Martha Moore-Keish in the Seasonal Article category for her Presbyterian Outlook article “Resurrection and religious otherness.”

 PC(USA) writers also won five Awards of Merit (second place):

  • Toni Montgomery, a frequent contributor to Presbyterian News Service, in the Feature Article: News Service category for her story “Book fair”; 
  • Daniel P. Smith, Eva Stimson, Serena Sato  and Pat Cole in the Personally Useful Article category for their Presbyterians Today story “A global marketplace: the stories behind the products”; 
  • Albert G. Butzer III in the Theological Reflection: Long Format category for his Presbyterian Outlook article “Making sense of biblical texts”; 
  • Victor Makari in the Theological Reflection: Long Format category for his Presbyterians Today article “Reaching out to neighbors in faith”; 
  • Jerry L. Van Marter of Presbyterian News Service in the Convention or Meeting Coverage category for “Fellowship of Presbyterians examines options for ‘differentiation’ from PC(USA).”

 Another three Honorable Mentions (third place) went to PC(USA) journalists:

  • Cary Estes, writing for Presbyterians Today, in the Feature Article, Magazine, Short Format category for his article “Holy humor”; 
  • Krin Van Tatenhove, writing for The Presbyterian Outlook, in the First Person Account, Long Format category for “A medal for two”; 
  • In the Department category, Jana Childers, Michael Lindvall and Ted V. Foote Jr. for “Benedictory” in The Presbyterian Outlook.

 In all, The Presbyterian Outlook won five awards, Presbyterians Today and Presbyterian News Service four awards each, and HORIZONS, the magazine of Presbyterian Women, one award.